Reversible plow



'2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. GATES.

REVERSIBLE PLOW.

(NoModeL) No; 291,503. Patented Jan. 8, 1884.-

wii'nes'ses: J lumen/tor Horatio G'tatea,

2 Sheets- Sheet 2. v

(No Model.)

H. GATES. REVERSIBLE PLOW.

No. 291,503. Patented Jan. '8, 1884.

u, mzns mmmmmr. Wanhingiun. n. c,

i I i UNrrnn STATES PATENT trier.

HORATIO GATES, OF WVORGESTER, MASSACHUSETTS,

REVERSIBLE PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,505 dated January 8, 1864,

Anplieatio'nfiled March10,183. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it Hwy concern.-

Be it known that I, I-Ionnrro Gurus, of WVorcester, in the county of WVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Flows; and I. declare the following to be a description of my said invention suffieiently full, clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

a The objects of my present invention are to provide an improved reversible plow that will I 5 work the furrows with the same facility as a landside-plow, and have the same relative lines of draft and equal tendency to run to land, whether working in right or left position of adjustment; to provide a simple mechanism for the automatic shifting of the clevis by the action of reversing of the plow; to afford means forconveniently and securely locking the plow at positions of right or left adjustment; to afford means for sustaining thebackward strain 2. 5. of the share with out undue strain upon the reversing-hinges; to provide a plow with a re versible colter or sod-turner adapted for swinging action on the beam for adjustment to right or left working position,'and means for con- 30. veniently securing the same at either position of adjustment. These obj ects I attain by mechanism constructed substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings and herein described, the particular subject-matter claimed 3 5 being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of a plow, illustrating the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the beam, showing the devices for automatically 4o shifting the clevis and for fastening the sodplow in position. Fig. 3 is a rear view of one of the arms on which the shares and moldboards are secured, showing the portion sustained against the forward standard'and the 5 triangular portion with hole for the fasteningrod. Fig. at is a top plan view of the hinging plate for supporting the rocking arms. 1 Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the beam and hinge-platoon larger scale. Fig. 6 is a trans 5o verse vertical section of the beam, showing thefront of the main plow. Fig. 7 is a transthe same manner as above described.

. verse vertical section, showing thefront of sodplow. Fig. 8 is a side view of the landside and shoe 011 larger scale. Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the landside without the shoe. Fig. 5 10 is a transverse vertical section of the landside and shoe on larger scale. Fig. 11 is a view of a knife or blade for attachment to the front of plows.

In the drawings, A denotes the beam, and B the handles, of ordinary form.

0 indicates the landside, provided with standards 00, which are permanently attached. to the beam A by bolts (0 a, and lby which said landside is supported in stationary posi-. tion centrally beneath the beam. The oppo site faces of the landside C are of correspond: ing shape, so that it serves as a fixed landside for either of the reversing mold-boards and shares when brought down into working P0? sition for or when turning furrows either to the right or left. The bottom or foot of the landside G is provide with a longitudinal dovetailed or undercut groove, 1), extending from its front end nearly to its rear end, and preferably made with a slight taper toward the rear, while the shoe or wearing-piece O is provided with a rib, b, of corresponding shape, which serves for attaching said shoe to the landside, the parts being put together by inserting the rib 1) into the groove 1) from the front end and forcing it backward until the end of the rib strikes the end of the groove, which prevents all further backward movement of the shoe. When the shoe becomes .85 worn out,it can be readily removed or driven out by striking it with a hammer on its rear end, and a new shoe inserted in its place. If preferred, the groove 1) may be formed in the shoe 0, and the rib b may be formed on the bottom of the landside C, the parts being fitted and retained together in substantially The plow is made with two mold-boards, D D, with shares F F, respectively connected in reverse and diametrically-opposite positions to rocking arms E E, which are hinged to the beam A in such manner that either mold-board D-or D can be turned down into position against the stationary landside 0 (one at the right the other at the left) to form in connection therewith a complete plowihaving substantially the same shape and relative draft alignment as an ordinary single or landside plow. v\Vhen one mold is down in working position, the other one is elevated above the beam, or vertically over the first, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6. The arms E E swing or rock over the top of the beam to effect the change from right to left, and vice versa. The rocking arms are made substantially straight laterally and provided with offset hinges e, pivoted between ear pieces or bearings 6, formed on a hinge-plate, G, that is attached to the top of beam A, as shown. In case the plow-beam A is made of iron the hinge-ears a can, if desired, be cast integral with the beam, and also the lugs h could be formed on the sides of the beam integral therewith. The hinge-plate is in the present instance made from cast-iron, of the form shown, and it is connected to the beam by the same bolts, a, which secure the landsi'de standards c to the beam. Said plate G is provided with side guards, g, which form seats for the arms when down, and with lugs or flanges h, that form back supports for the armsE E,to assist in sustaining any backward strains that may be brought to bear on the hinges.

I prefer the form of hinge and plate G shown, but do not desire to confine myself to this identical construction, as the hinge may be made or arranged in different form, and a plate G may be used without the side guards, 5 and lugs h,- or the plate may be formed in two parts onefor each arminstead of being made integral, without departure from the nature of my invention.

The outer ends of the arms E E are properly shaped to support the mold-boards D D, to which they are connected by bolts or other suitable fastenings. The main arm E has its ends widened and shaped to proper form to receive and support the plow point or share F, and to fill the triangular space in front of the landside and beneath the point. Said arm E is formed with a shoulder or offset, j, which fits over the front of the landside and forward standard 0, so that the strain or draft is transferred from the beam to the plow through the standard 0, and little, if any, strain is brought onto the hinging of the arms. The moldboards D D are preferably made from sheetsteel bent to a cylindrical curve, but can be otherwise formed, if desired. The points or shares F can be made of sheet-steel, or be cast from iron or steel. The mold boards and shares are retained in working position by means of a bolt or rod, H, which passes through a longitudinal opening in the landside-casting and enters a hole, 13, in the triangular portion of the rocking arm E, as indicated. The rod H is connected with the lower end of a lever, I, fulcrumed on the rear standard 0, and having its upper end, which is provided with a suitable handle, located at a convenient posi tion to be reached by the attendant, who can lock and unlock the reversing mold -boards from the stationary landside C by swinging the lever I forward or back, as required. The point of the plow may be'provided with an inclined lug or projection, m, for guiding the parts onto each other and preventing the angle at from striking the forward angle of the standard 0 in case there is any looseness or backlash in the hinging. A reversing colter, j ointer, or sod-plow, K, is attached to the beam forward of the main plow, and arranged for reversal in similar manner by swing-arm E hinged to the top of the beam A, as indicated at G The arm E" is offset or bent, similar to illustration, Fig. 7, to bring the sod-plow K into proper working alignment beneath the beam A. The colter or sod-plow is retained in adjusted position by a rod, J, the forward end of which is provided with two hooks, 02, which engage the arm E at either side of the beam A for drawing it close to the side of the beam, while the rear end of the said rod is connected with the lever I, so that the sodplow K is secured and released at the same time and by the same movement that operates the fastening devices of themain plow. If desired, the arms E and E can be connected with each other in such manner that the plow K- will swing or reverse in unison with the moldboards D D. A plate having side projections, L, is secured to the under side of the beam in position to receive the backward strain of the plow or colter K, the arm of which rests against the forward side of the projection L when the plow is down in working position. The plate L also forms a guide for the rod J, and may also serve for a fulcrum-bed for the clevis-operating lever.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate my improved device for shifting the clevis M automatically when the plow is reversed. The lower part of the clevis is extended backward from the retaining-bolt 0 to engage with a lever, N, the fulcrum of which is on the under side of the beam at P. A second lever, B, fulcrumed at S. extends backward to a position where its rear end will engage with the forward part of the mold-boards D D or shares F F, so that the lever will be pressed toward one side or the other, accordingly as the plow is adjusted for right or left hand furrows. The ends of the levers and the clevis-bar are connected by semicircular forks and rounded heads, as shown, or in other suitable manner, so that the action of the lever B will be transmitted to swing the clevis to the right or left, thereby changing the line of draft relatively to the axis of the beam for causing the plow to take land either on the right or left, according with the right or left adjustment of the mold-boards D D. If desired, the ends of the two levers N and B may be extended past each other and longitudinally slotted at their junction and be connected by a movable stud, so that the throw of the clevis can be regulated to give a greater or less degree of side draft, when required, by simply changing the position of the connect ing-stud within the slots relatively to the ful-' crums of the levers. This arrangement of levers for operating the clevis automatically can be used in connection with reversible plows of other construction than that herein shown with beneficial results, and I desire to include such use of the device as within the scope of my 111- vention.

The plow may be made and used either with or without the reversing sod-plow or colter, as preferred. It may, also, be made with or without the device for automatically shifting the clevis.

T indicates a thin sharp blade of steel for' attachment to the front of the sod-plow (or to the main plow, in case the sod-plow is not em ployed) for cutting the sod on the line of division of the furrows. Said blade may be slotted for the holding-screw in the manner indicated, so that the blade can be set forward as its edge is worn away. Said blade T can be readily detached from the plow for sharpening when it becomes dulled by use.

I am aware that plows have heretofore been made in which reversal for right and left op erations is effected by swinging two connected plows about a longitudinal axis; and I do not therefore herein broadly claim such method of reversing a plow. So far as I am aware, however, such plows have not been heretofore made as herein shown and described.

I am also aware that devices have heretofore been employed for shifting the clevis of a plow; and I do not therefore broadly claim a shiftingclevis irrespective of the construction of the mechanism for effecting its operation.

WVhat I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V 1. A swivel or reversible plow having two mold-boards, D D, connected together by rocking arm E and rocking arm E, provided with triangular piecesE in combination with the hubs or bearings con the top of the beam, and means for retaining either of said mold-boards at working position, substantially as set forth.

2. A swivel or reversible plow having two mold-boards,'D and D, rigidly connected at diametrically-opposite positions by the rocking arms Eand E, which are hinged to hubs or bearings on the top of the beam A, in coinbination with the fasteningrod H, which passes through the landside G into the triangular end of the armE, and the lever I, adapted for simultaneously operating the fasteningrod II and the fastening-rod J, substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with a swivel or reversible plow, the reversible jointer or sod-plow K, having two small mold-boards connected by the rocking arm Ehwhich is hinged to the hubs or bearings G in combination with the beam A, substantially as shown and described.

4. A swivel or reversible plow having two mold-boards, D D, connected together by rocking arms E E, hinged to hubs or bearings on the beam A, in combination with two j ointers or sod-plows, K, connected by swinging arms E", hinged to hubs or bearings G2 on the top of the beam, and devices for simultaneously fastening and releasing said moldboards and sod-plows, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a swivel or reversible sod-plow or jointer, the fastening-rod J, hinged to the lever I and passing forward at the under side of the beam A, with its forward ends provided with hooks a for fastening the sod-plow or j ointer firmly in working position at either side of the beam, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a swivel or reversible plow, the arm E, which connects the mold-boards D D and shares F E, provided with the offset or lip f, in combination with the forward landsidestandard 0, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a swivel or reversible plow having two mold-boards connected by rocking arms E E,

the hinge-plate G, provided with side guards, g, and supporting lugs or ribs 71/, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'8. In a swivel or reversible plow having two mold-boards connected by rocking arms hinged to the top of the beam, the plate carrying the ears or bearings 0, adapted for attachment to the woodbeam A by the same bolts which secure the standards of the stationary landside G to said beam, as shown and described.

9. The combination, with the beam A and reversing sod-plow K, of the supporting-plate provided with projections L, and adapted to serve as a guide for the rod J and fulcrum-bearing for the lever B, substantially as shown and described.

10. The combination,with the clevis llI, hav- 1ng an arm extending backward from its piv- 

